Philanthropist Malin Burnham Received 2016 Humanitarian of the Year Award

November 1, 2016

Philanthropist Malin Burnham Received 2016 Humanitarian of the Year Award

Recognition Presented by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University

San Diego, Calif. — Malin Burnham, one of San Diego’s most renowned philanthropists and business leaders, and the author of recently-published book “Community Before Self,” received the 2016 Humanitarian of the Year Award, presented by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University. This award is granted to a person with a demonstrated commitment to giving back to others and to the community through philanthropy for the betterment of our society and humanity. Previous recipients of this award include T. Denny Sanford, for whom the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy was named, and the late Conrad Prebys.

“We are so very grateful to have the opportunity to honor Malin for his dedication to the community,” said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System. “Malin truly exemplifies the values of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy by inspiring us all to put community first.”

Mr. Burnham is recognized nationally for his generosity of spirit and leadership. His extensive community involvement has included bringing the America’s Cup races, the USS Midway Museum, and the U.S. Olympic Training Center to San Diego County. He has also been a board member of numerous major corporations and firms, chaired non-profits and co-founded more than a dozen organizations in his career. To name just a few example, he founded the Burnham-Moore Center for Real Estate at USD, and the Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement at the San Diego Foundation.

His impacts go beyond San Diego. More than one million lives are estimated to have been saved each year through the Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.

The evening included a presentation by Mr. Burnham, followed by a Q&A. During this time, Mr. Burnham highlighted key points from his new book and shared some of his guiding principles with members of the San Diego community. Mr. Burnham also emphasized a need for nonprofits to strengthen their fundraising process by incorporating business and sales strategies, an approach that is taken by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy.

As Mr. Burnham concluded the discussion about his history with various nonprofit endeavors that have grown to positively impact the community by adapting a business-like approach and collaborative efforts, a special video message was played for Mr. Burnham, which offered words of congratulations from a dear friend and fellow philanthropist, Denny Sanford. Mr. Sanford, who named Mr. Burnham as one of his inspirations, was in fact the inspiration behind the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. His visionary approach to fundraising and nonprofit leadership resulted in the creation of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University in 2014 and has expanded to a network of affiliated Institutes of Philanthropy in coordination with other educational institutions. These Institutes offer educational and training programs to help nonprofits significantly increase their fundraising capabilities and their positive impacts on society, a focus that Mr. Burham also noted is important to strengthen communities. Mr. Burnham’s demonstrated commitment to his community includes serving as a part owner of the Padres and the Sockers, and the causes he supports range from medical research, real estate education, and civic engagement. He has been Chairman of John Burnham & Company Insurance and Burnham Real Estate and has remained involved since 1949. In 2008, Burnham Real Estate was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield. Mr. Burnham is a native San Diegan who graduated from Stanford University in 1949 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. Mr. Burnham continues to set a strong example for how much good can be done with passion and purpose and by putting collaboration and “Community Before Self.”

About the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University Based at National University, which is among the largest private nonprofit universities in California, the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy offers educational and training programs to help nonprofits significantly increase their fundraising capabilities and their positive impacts on society. Based on the vision of philanthropist and entrepreneur T. Denny Sanford, the first Sanford Institute of Philanthropy launched at National University in 2014 with the development of proven contemporary curricula presented by recognized nonprofit leaders, faculty and renowned philanthropists. National University is leading the expansion of a network of affiliated Institutes of Philanthropy in coordination with other educational institutions. A common cornerstone among each Institute is the Cause Selling approach toward fundraising and donor relationships that blends the passion of philanthropy with an emphasis on proven business principles.

About National University Founded in 1971, National University is one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in California. With more than 150,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students. Four schools and two colleges – the College of Letters and Sciences; the Sanford College of Education; the School of Business and Management; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies – offer more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 23 teacher credentials. Programs are offered at locations throughout California and across the nation, and are also available online. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California. http://www.nu.edu/

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